25 days on Maui

I was under the impression that my honeymoon at two weeks long would probably be the longest vacation I would ever take during my working lifetime. Obviously I was wrong.
25 days in Maui! Crazy, but true.
Of course, this wasn't to be a true vacation. See, my parents live on Maui and have for the past six years. Unfortunately my mom's health has taken a turn for the worse and my husband and I knew it was time to come out and lend a hand. Thankfully, a combination of our presence and medications from the doctors have put mom back on the road to better times, which we hope will last for a long time.
Not to brag or anything, but this is probably my sixth visit to Maui since our honeymoon eight years ago, which entailed a week on Maui and a week on Kauai. When you come to the island so many times, you begin to see things that you normally wouldn't as a one-time tourist.
For instance, in Kihei, where my folks live, it's fun to see the peacocks cross the main road. In fact, you must always be on the lookout for them because they'll walk across whenever the urge strikes and drivers, who are only traveling a modest 30 mph, stop in awe as these cool creatures strut by.
It is worth the drive up-country to visit the Maui School of Therapeutic Massage up in Makawao where students studying massage offer one-hour massages for $30.
On the way over to Kihei and Wailea is the SPCA, a fairly non-descript building where you can visit all the cute dogs and cats that are up for adoption. In fact, on this visit we actually got mom and dad to adopt the cutest cat you've ever seen. It will be good for them to have a cuddly creature around the house to keep them company once we have left.